Created on 15th May 2009
Cosmetic Surgery & Aesthetics Magazine gives you the lowdown on mineral make-up
Mineral make-up is the latest trend in cosmetics. It is widely available in the shops, touted in fashion magazines and many of the big name brands are now launching mineral make-up lines. How does mineral makeup differ from traditional products?
Despite different brand names and marketing strategies, most mineral make-up has remarkably similar ingredients. Some commonly used minerals include micronized titanium dioxide, micronized zinc oxide, iron oxide, silk mica and hydrated silica.
These minerals are also, surprisingly, present in traditional make-up, but what sets mineral make-up ranges apart from traditional cosmetics is that they are missing the chemicals, preservatives, talc and other fillers you find in the lipsticks and foundations cluttering up your make-up bag. It is these chemical components which often trigger allergic reactions.
Pros
- Great for sensitive skin; keeps pores clear, also hypoallergenic
- Protects the skin against the sunBacteria cannot grow so keeps longer than traditional make-up
- Can be used after cosmetic skin treatments; the minerals serve as a coolant to the skin and even encourage the skin to heal faster (but always check with your doctor or surgeon)
- Buildable coverage: mineral make-up is light, and therefore you can build it to whatever coverage you want - light, medium or heavy
Cons
- Can be expensive compared to traditional cosmetics
- A common complaint is that they can be tricky to apply and messy because it comes in powder form
- Although mineral make-up is said to be hypoallergenic there have been complaints of negative reactions to two popular ingredients - Bismuth Oxychloride and Mica
What The Experts Say...
Celebrity hair and make-up artist and co-founder of YourWashbag.com, a one-stop shop for all your beauty needs, Claire Harmer has worked across film, theatre, fashion and editorial, using both traditional cosmetics and mineral make-up.
"I have been using mineral make-up for makeovers for about eighteen months now and I've found it a great alternative to traditional make-up.
If I am doing a trial, for someone's wedding or a big event, I tend to do half their face in a traditional cosmetic such as MAC and half in mineral make-up so they can decide over the course of a day which one feels and looks the nicest and which lasts the longest.
I'm finding that most people prefer the mineral foundation - they say that it feels lighter and doesn't clog the pores. And it lasts. The Youngblood make-up range has just brought out a mineral primer which provides a great base for the foundation and stop it sliding off the skin.
Another plus of mineral make-up is that it adapts slightly to your skin tone so I find the coverage is better than traditional cosmetics.
For film work I've been using mineral make-up ranges such as Bare Escentuals for a number of years. The heat of the cameras and the rigours of filming means you need really hard working cosmetics. I've found that the mineral make-up really stays in place compared to traditional make-up ranges and needs far less touch ups."
CS&AM
